Live bird markets in Westchester ordered to temporarily close amidst soaring bird flu cases
Following the sales, the plan is to thoroughly clean and disinfect the premises, with a temporary closure scheduled until Feb. 15, in compliance with health orders.
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The mandate comes from Gov. Kathy Hochul following detection of bird flu in seven live bird markets in Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn.
Yonkers First Live Poultry and Dominick's in Sleepy Hollow are two Westchester businesses that will have to temporarily close.
Bird flu was not detected in either business.
Starting Friday, both businesses will have three days to begin selling down all inventory.
They will then have to go through a cleaning and disinfection process, will have to close for an additional five days following the sanitation and finally will have to pass inspection by an animal health inspector before being permitted to reopen.
News 12 spoke with residents who were understanding of the closures.
"That's going to affect everyone and everything. The families, the people that work there, the consumers, so that's definitely not a good thing to hear," said Jackie Blaine, of Tarrytown.
According to a statement from Gov. Hochul, live bird markets will reopen Feb. 14.
The statement adds, to report sick or dead birds, please contact the Department of Agriculture and Markets division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3502, or the USDA at 866-536-7593.
